Lock



Oct. 31, 1939. H. H. RAYMOND 2,177,996

' LOCK Filed July 29, 1.938 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR f1/'dce Ry/fw/IJlm zw @M ATTORNEYS Oct. 31, 1939. H H RAYMOND 2,177,996

LOCK

Filed July 29, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR /7race f/ /fa/m/ ATTORNEYSPatented Oct. 31, 1939 PATENT OFFICE LOCK Horace H. Raymond, Berlin,Conn., assignor to Eagle Lock Company, Terryville, Conn., a corporationof Connecticut Application July 29, 1938, Serial No. 221,901

9 Claims.

This invention relates to locks and particularly to locks of thecylinder type embodying improvements which substantially avoid thepossibility of picking or otherwise releasing the lock without the key.

Cylinder locks as usually constructed are of two types, usually referredto as pin tumbler and disc tumbler locks. Both types can be releasedwithout a properly fitting key by per- Sons'suiiiciently skilled who areable to manipu- -late the pins or discs by means of various instrumentsinserted through the keyhole. All such locks can be picked because thepins or discs are exposed in the keyhole and are, therefore, ac-

r cessible.v

It is the object of theprevent invention to Vafford a substantiallyypick-proof lock in which the movable locking elements cannot be reachedthrough the keyhole or otherwise without dismantling the lock.

YAnother object of the invention is to aord a g simple and secure lockof the cylinder type in which the locking elements are controlled by'magnetic means. f

Other objects and advantages of the invention rwill be apparent' as itis better understood by reference to the following specification and theaccompanying drawings, inv which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through the lock cylinder and-key; f

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

3 is a rear end elevation of the lock;

Fig. 4 is a front end elevation showing the face plate:

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the key;

Fig. 6 is asection on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line l-'l of Fig. 8, illustrating a furtherapplication of the principles of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

For the purpose of illustration,` a simple form of lock embodying theprinciples of the invention will be described in detail. The principlescan be applied in more complicated locks to afford additional security,although in its simplest form the lock as described is much more securethan the types of cylinder locks which have been available heretofore.

Referring to the drawings, 5 indicates the lock cylinder which isadapted to be disposed in a suitable opening in the closure which is tobe secured, for example, a door. It is provided with ashoulder 6 and amovable nut l mounted on threads 8 to firmly clamp the cylinder to theclosure. A hollow cylindrical plug 9 is rotatably `extension I2 toreceive a nut I 3 and washer I l whereby the plug and cylinder are heldin assembled relation. A cam I5 is mounted on the plug and adapted torotate therewith. The cam may actuate any suitable latch or boltmechanism (not shown) such as is commonly used in connection withcylinder locks. The details of the latch or bolt mechanism form no partof the present invention.

The plug 9 is provided with semi-cylindrical v grooves I6 diametricallyopposite each other, and

the cylinder is provided with matching grooves I'l which are slightlyenlarged, and balls i8 are disposed in the two sets of grooves and areadapted to move freely therein. The cylinder is also provided with acircumferential groove i9, and when the balls I8 are disposed asindicated in Fig. 1, the plug can be rotated with respect to thecylinder, that is to say, the lock is released. The balls travel in thecircumferential groove i9 as the plug rotates. Such movement of the plugis possible only, however, when both of the balls are precisely in thepositionto enter the groove I9. When the plug is returned to its normalposition, the balls will move away from the circumferential groove I9 ashereinafter described,

and it is impossible to again bring them into proper conjunction withthe groove except with a key designed to effect this result. i

The key is provided with a suitable head 2i) and a cylindrical shank ilwhich is adapted to 11A be inserted in the lock.4 A sleeve 22 surroundsthe shank of the key and is permanently secured thereto in any suitablemanner. To eiect the desired movement of the balls I8, a magnet 23 isdisposed in a transverse opening 24 in the shank of the key, the magnetbeing enclosed by the sleeve and therefore invisible.

The balls I8 are attracted to the poles of the magnet 23, so that as thekey is inserted in the lock the balls will move in the grooves I6 andI'l to the position indicated in Fig. 1, in which they are in alignmentwith the circumferential groove I 9, thus permitting the lock to beopened.v When the key is withdrawn, the attraction of the magnet willcause the balls to move away from the circumferential groove I9, and itis practically impossible to cause the balls to again return to theposition indicated in Fig. 1 simultaneously, so that the lock can beopened, unless the key carrying the magnet in the position indicated isagain inserted in the lock.

Because the magnet is necessarily very small, it is essential to use ahighly magnetic material. For this purpose, I prefer to employ an alloyci aluminum, nickel and cobalt, known as Alnico, although anysufficiently magnetic material may be substituted therefor. Alnico is aspecial alloy having magnetic qualities which far surpass thecorresponding characteristics of ordinary magnetic steel. See, forexample, the patent to Ruder No. 1,968,569 which describes one form ofAlnico. Owing to the high magnetic quality of this alloy, very smallpieces are capable of attracting and moving steel objects such as theballs employed in the device herein described. The magneticcharacteristic of ordinary magnet steel is relatively low compared withthat of Alnico. Ordinary magnet steel is not suinciently magnetic toeffect the desired result, and it is not possible to manipulate theballs It tively by inserting an ordinary magnetized sti ,a of metal inthe keyhole, since it will not attract both of the balls simultaneouslyto the necessary position in alignment with the circumferential grooveI9. Unless the balls I8 are drawn by the magnetic force to the ,preciseposition required, the plug cannot be turned, and practical experiencehas indicated that a strip of magnetised metal does not concentrate themagnetic lines of force sufficiently to accomplish the purpose ofproperly centering the balls.

It is necessary, of course, in manufacturing locks, to provide numerouscombinations. This may be effected in a lock of the type described byvarying the position of the magnet 23 and the corresponding position ofthe circumferential groove I9, By shifting the magnet longitudinally ofthe key, by as little as half the diameter of the balls I9, a newcombination is secured, and at least ten such combinations can be madeavailable by this simple change.

To further multiply the combinations, the key may be provided with aprojecting lug 25 which is adapted to register with a recess 26 in theface plate II, and a corresponding groove 21 in the plug 9. I alsoprovide the key with a spur 28 which is adapted to register with anopening 29 in the face plate and with the recess 28 in the plug. Theprimary function of the spur 28 is to turn the plug when the plug isreleased. However, by varying the angular position of the projecting lug25 with reference to the spur 28, an additional number of combinationsare provided, since the key will nt only a lock having recessescorresponding to the lug and spur. These variations may be utilized inconnection with various positions of the magnet to multiply theavailable combinations to a hundred or more.

It is essential that the balls I8 move freely in the grooves and inorder to prevent possibility of binding, the grooves II in the cylinderare, as already indicated, wider than the grooves I6 in the plug. As afurther assurance, a ball 30, biased by a spring 3l, is mounted in thecylinder and is adapted to engage a recess 32 in the flange I0 of theplug. Thus, when the key is turned to locking position, the grooves I6and I'I will be in proper registration to permit the balls I8 to movefreely, and as the key is 'withdrawn, the balls will follow the magnetto the forward ends of the grooves. Thereafter the balls can be moved tothe proper position to permit releasing of the lock only under theinuence of a magnet suitably disposed in a key which is so formed thatit may be inserted in the keyhole. The ball 3Q has the additionalfunction of preventing rattling of the cam I5, since it holds the plugiirmly in its relation to the lock cylinder until the key is insertedand the lock is released.

The structure and principles may be applied in more complicated forms oflocks, as for example by providing another set of grooves in thecylinder` and plug parallel to but spaced from the grooves as described.Such grooves will be provided with balls, and the key in that case willhave two magnets so disposed as to bring the balls into properregistration with circumferential grooves in the cylinder so that theplug may be turned when a proper key is inserted. Withl to the variousparts, and the description need not be repeated. In addition to thegrooves I6, I1 and I9, and the balls I8, as shown in Fig. l of thedrawings, I provide the plug Sl with a second set of semi-cylindricalgrooves diametrically opposed to each other. The cylinder is providedwith matching grooves 3|, and balls 32 are disposed in the two sets ofgrooves and are adapted to move :freely therein. A circumferentialgroove 33 is provided the cylinder, and when the balls are disposed asindicated in Fig. 7, the balls i8 being likewise disposed to registerwith the circumferential groove 59, the plug can be rotated with respectto the cylinder to release the lock. To accomplish this, the key isprovided, in addition to the magnet 23 as in Fig. 1, with a similarmagnet 34 which influences the balls 33. The magnet 3ft is disposed inangular relation to the magnet 23, as clearly indicated in Figs. 7 and8. The lock can be opened, therefore, only when a key having two magnetsin proper relation is inserted in the lock to move the balls I8 and 33to their proper respective positions to register with thecircumferential grooves I9 and 33.

The lock may be simplied by omitting one set of longitudinal grooves andone ball. As in the preferred embodiment, the lock can be released onlywnen the remaining ball registers with the circumferential groove underthe iniiuence of the magnet. circumferential groove in the cylinder, itmay be dispo-sed in the plug with the same result. The groove, insteadof circumferential, may be disposed helically in either the cylinder orplug.

Instead of a lug on the key, the plug may be provided with one or moreprojections adapted to register with grooves in the key. Only a keyhaving the necessary grooves in properly spaced relation can be insertedin the plug.

Alnico, which is the best available material for small magnets of highpower adapted for the purpose of the invention, is manufactured byGeneral Electric Company under Patents Nos. 3,633,805, 1,947,274,1,968,569, and 2,027,994 to Zlill, inclusive.

The structure illustrated and described is one ,la admirably suited tothe purpose and embodies the principle of controlling the lock throughmagnetic means. Many modications may be made in the structure,especially in adapt- Instead of arranging the del ing it to a variety ofuses in connection with different types of closures, without departingfrom the invention or sacricing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim:

l. A lock adapted to be manipulated by a. magnetic key comprising ahollow cylinder member having a longitudinal groove on its inner face, acylindrical plug member having a longitudinal groove adapted to registerwith the longitudinal groove in the cylinder and a key opening, one ofthe members having a circumferential groove, and a ball freely movablein the longitudinal grooves.

2. A lock adapted to be manipulated by a magnetic key comprising ahollow cylinder member having a longitudinal groove and acircumferential groove on its inner face, a cylindrical plug memberhaving a longitudinal groove adapted to register with the longitudinalgroove in the cylinder and a key opening, and a ball freely movable inthe longitudinal grooves.

3. A lock adapted to be manipulated by a magnetic key comprising ahollow cylinder member having a longitudinal groove on its inner face, acylindrical plug member having a longitudinal groove adapted to registerwith the longitudinal groove in the cylinder, a circumferential grooveand a key opening, and a ball freely movable in the longitudinalgrooves.

4. A lock adapted to be manipulated by a magnetic key comprising ahollow cylinder member having spaced longitudinal grooves on its innerface, a cylindrical plug member having longitudinal grooves adaptedtoregister with the longitudinal grooves in the cylinder and a keyopening, one of the members having a circumferential groove, and ballsfreely movable in the longitudinal grooves,

5. A lock adapted to be manipulated by a magnetic key comprising ahollow cylinder member having spaced longitudinal grooves and acircumferential groove on its inner face, a cylindrical plug memberhaving longitudinal grooves adapted to register with the longitudinalgrooves in the cylinder and a key opening, and balls freely movable inthe longitudinal grooves.

6. A lock adapted to be manipulated by a magnetic key comprising ahollow cylinder member having spaced longitudinal grooves on its innerface, a cylindrical plug member having longitudinal grooves adapted toregister with the longitudinal grooves in the cylinder, acircumferential groove and a key opening, and balls freely movable inthe longitudinal grooves.

7. A lock adapted to be manipulated by a magnetic key comprising ahollow cylinder member having diametrically disposed longitudinalgrooves on its inner face, a cylindrical plug member having longitudinalgrooves adapted to register with the longitudinal grooves in thecylinder and a key opening, one of the members having a circumferentialgroove, and balls freely movable in the longitudinal grooves.

8. A lock adapted to be manipulated by a magnetic key comprising ahollow cylinder member having diametrically disposed longitudinalgrooves and a circumferential groove on its inner face, a cylindricalplug member having longitudinal grooves adapted to register with thelongitudinal grooves in the cylinder and a key opening, and balls freelymovable in the longitudinal grooves.

9. A lock adapted to be manipulated by a magnetic key comprising ahollow cylinder member having diametrically disposed longitudinalgrooves on its inner face, a cylindrical plug member having longitudinalgrooves adapted to register with the longitudinal grooves in thecylinder, a circumferential groove and a key opening, and balls freelymovable in the longitudinal grooves.

HORACE H. RAYMOND.

